My opinion.
By allowing the sale of bycatch many fisherman would purposely start targeting that species.
Bycatch happens to every specie but it always seems so dramatic when stiped bass are involved
A sustained fishery can't keep up with modern technology. Better fishfinding gear, better bigger nets, boats etc. is just too much of an advantage.
I always said go back to hook and line. You can't tell me a comm bottom fisherman that has a 30-40 foot boat couldn't make a living with 3-4 auto jiggers on the rail. Reducing bycatch or at least improving the mortality rate of it.
Sure, no comm fisherman will say they want to catch every last fish and kill there way of life, but when your trying to put money on the table who packs it in for the day when you had a killer set and the fish are still there......I know when the big bass are around and I still have live pogies in the well I don't get home when I planned tooooo.
The regs can certainly be improved for the better but there is no regulation(s) that everyone will be happy with, that is just human nature.
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